If you run a seasonal business, you might need to use storage for your stock and equipment differently than if yours were a standard, year-round business. Demand for your products or services will fluctuate with the seasons and/or weather, and between busy periods, finding cost-effective, secure storage can be a challenge.
 

Do you need seasonal storage?

Some seasonal businesses don’t require any storage, of course - if you’re a tutor, a pet-sitter or similar, your business is, well, you! The sort of seasonal businesses that might need storage during quiet periods include:

• Gardeners
• Winter pop-up stores
• Christmas, Halloween, Valentine’s (etc) retailers,
• Watersports clubs (e.g. kayaking, surfing coaches)
• Sports coaches and clubs (e.g. bowls clubs, 5-a-side football teams) 
• Extra-curricular school sports providers

If your business uses equipment (e.g. kits, nets, balls, boats, large tools) or makes/supplies products (e.g. Christmas or Halloween decorations, seasonal gifts and cards), you might currently be storing it all at home. It might be in your shed, a spare room, or a lock-up near your club base. If you’re a larger business with specific premises, you might store that stock and equipment in a room or dotted around your office.

Those arrangements might work well enough for you because it’s only for a few weeks or months, and you’ve got used to sacrificing that space for your products or equipment. 

If your current arrangements aren’t working anymore - perhaps because your business has grown, or maybe because you and your family have decided you’d like more space at home (and don’t want to be reminded of work all the time) - you might want to consider using a self storage unit instead.
 

How can self storage help a seasonal business?

Traditionally, business storage was limited to warehouse space or lock-ups on fixed commercial leases. These options are still available and may suit larger businesses with consistent inventory. For seasonal businesses, being tied into a permanent, long-term commercial lease (and being responsible for health and safety for anyone who enters the property and arranging security, taxes, and insurance) is a daunting, expensive prospect.

A self storage unit for your seasonal business would have several advantages over these traditional types of commercial storage. It would also be a vast improvement over stashing your inventory all over your house! The four main benefits of using self storage for your seasonal business are:
 

1. Self storage is cost effective

Self storage units are an ideal solution for seasonal businesses, offering flexible rental terms tailored to your needs. At Safestore, we understand the unique demands of seasonal business operations. That's why our contracts are designed to be as adaptable as your business, with options to stay as short or as long as you require. We offer three types of contracts: fixed, flexible, and variable, each catering to different needs, with varying notice periods, minimum stays, and discounts.

For new customers, we extend a special 'thank you' with our introductory offers, which include either 50% off for the first 8 weeks or £1 for the first month, depending on the location. These offers are designed to provide an affordable start to your storage journey with us.

When it comes to pricing, it's simple and transparent at Safestore. While prices vary by location, we strive to offer cost-effective solutions without compromising convenience. The price includes all the essentials like utilities, public and building insurance, and security measures. The only additional cost is insurance/protection for the contents of your unit, which you can either arrange through us or provide yourself if it meets certain criteria, ensuring you can budget effectively without any surprise bills.

You can search for your nearest store online to find the most suitable and affordable option for your business. Or, for a more personalised touch, give us a call. Our team is always ready to help you find a storage solution that fits your needs and budget.

At Safestore, we're committed to supporting the growth and flexibility of your seasonal business with our self storage solutions. Whether for a few weeks or several months.
 

2. Self storage is flexible

Flexibility is key in self storage, especially for businesses with fluctuating space requirements. At Safestore, we offer different contract types to suit your specific needs, each with its own level of flexibility.

While it's true that our self storage solutions offer more flexibility compared to traditional lock-ups or long-term commercial leases, the ability to change your storage space depends on the type of contract you choose.

With our flexible contract, you can adjust the size of your storage unit with just two weeks' notice. This is ideal if your business experiences seasonal changes in stock levels or equipment needs. On the other hand, our long-term contracts offer attractive discounts but require a minimum stay of one year.

For those needing the utmost flexibility, our variable contract allows you to change the unit size or cancel without any days to vacate notice, although this option does not include the discounts offered in other contract types.

Our units range from small 10 sq ft lockers to large warehouse-sized spaces of 500 sq ft+. And, to assist with your storage needs, many of our stores are equipped with forklifts, trolleys, and pallet trucks, which can also aid in moving from one unit size to another if your contract type allows.

Remember, increasing the size of your unit or adding additional units is always a possibility, subject to availability and the terms of your contract. We strive to accommodate your needs as they evolve, ensuring that you have the right amount of space when you need it.
 

3. Self storage is secure

Our stores feature indoor, secure units monitored by CCTV and protected with alarms and fire and pest control measures. While you are the only one with access to your unit, we recommend ensuring your contents are clean and dry when moving them in. We make every effort to maintain our units in a clean and dry condition. 

However, as with any storage space, there can occasionally be challenges like changes in weather. We suggest checking your items periodically, especially if they're stored for an extended period. Rest assured, we're committed to providing a secure and well-maintained environment for your belongings.

A major issue with traditional lock-ups is that they are prone to vandalism and burglary because of the lack of oversight and their remote locations. If you rented commercial warehouse space through a traditional lease, you would be expected to pay for year-round security and public liability insurance, etc, which would seem unfair if you only use your storage for part of the year!

With our self storage units, the cost of renting includes all the security measures in place, and all you need to pay on top of your rent is contents insurance or storeProtect to the value of whatever you’re storing. 
 

4. Self storage is convenient

We have over 130 stores across the UK, conveniently located near major roads and public transport links. Our stores boast extensive opening hours, open 7 days a week throughout the year. However, please note that our stores are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and Easter Sunday. We're also open on all other bank holidays, ensuring you can access your storage when you need it most.
 

Organise your inventory and maximise efficiency

If you decide to use self storage for your seasonal business, this is a great way to keep track of your inventory. When you move in, you can install shelves or whatever other furniture will help you keep track of what you’re storing. Label all your boxes clearly, and organise them in whatever way suits your business.

You can keep a digital inventory list, or do it the old-fashioned way and have a clipboard with a list by the door to your unit!

If you’re an online retailer, you could also set up a table with the packaging on hand so that you can send orders directly from your unit (all of our stores are DHL ServicePoints if that suits you, or of course, you could use your own couriers or parcel companies to deliver direct to and from the store). 

Our friendly staff can also accept deliveries on your behalf and keep them safe until you arrive to take them to your unit. You’ll never need to wait in for a delivery again!

If you’d like to know more, call or chat online with one of our friendly team for some no-obligation information to help you decide if self storage is right for your seasonal business. If you decide to go ahead and rent a self-storage unit with us, you can do that today online or by phone with no deposit to pay.